Manchester United signings nigh?

We are now almost half way through the month and, as yet, there has been no official transfer business concluded at Manchester United. Typically, most of the deals get done towards the end of the transfer window, when time is of the essence and the posturing between clubs ends.

But with no top-flight games this week you would imagine that it’s now or never for David Moyes to lay the foundations for some transfers.

Manchester United seem calm about the idea of waiting until the summer if their top targets aren’t currently available. But we think it will prove immeasurably more difficult to bring in top players in the summer if Manchester United can’t guarantee Champions League football to potential new signings.

The priority for Manchester United this season must be to finish in the top four and to do so they must surely bring a couple more midfielders in. The engine room has improved considerably since Darren Fletcher returned to full fitness but he is not a long-term answer. Here are a couple of players that David Moyes could potentially go out and buy right now.

Wesley Sneijder – after the on-off transfer of the Dutchman to Manchester United a couple of years ago it’s almost quite painful to mention him now. But a deal is surely more feasible than it was a couple of years ago. His fee would be considerably less than it was when he was at Inter Milan and he probably won’t come on the same salary now either.

Yet Sneijder remains a player on the top of his game and he’s been scoring goals for fun this season. Sneijder to Manchester United still seems like a match made in heaven.

Juan Mata – he’s so comfortable on the ball that he always looks as if he’s playing with slippers on. A wonderfully balanced and two footed player who can do anything on a football pitch. We think that Chelsea would be prepared to let Mata and David Luiz leave the club. Many still feel that Mourinho wouldn’t sell to a direct rival but with Manchester United out of the FA Cup and miles behind in The Premier League perhaps The Special One would relent if the price was right. Moyes should at least make a move on behalf of Manchester United – this guy would be pure gold for the club.